O.C. students battle for decathlon crown

Feb. 5, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Iris Kim, 16, of Kennedy High School, in La Palma, holds up a card to indicate a correct answer in the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. The finals of the decathlon took place at Westminster High School and brought together 550 students Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Kenneth Gerlits, 16, left, Samantha Patterson, 17, center, and James Lau, 18, right, all of Marina High School, in Huntington Beach, cheer on fellow decathlon competitors Saturday. About 550 students from 39 schools competed in the finals of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon at Westminster High School. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Joshua Thomas, 18, of Loara High School, in Anaheim, indicates a correct answer in the finals of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. Thomas competed in the honors level of the decathlon. The final results of the decathlon will be announced on Thursday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Students cheer on fellow competitors in the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon at Westminster High School Saturday. Thirty-nine Orange County high schools competed. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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In the spirit of competition, Alex Lam, 16, of Marina High School had his face decorated. Lam competed in the honors level of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A competitor ponders a question in the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Students cheer on fellow decathlon competitors Saturday at Westminster High School. Students from 39 high schools throughout Orange County compete in the finals of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Students consider a question during the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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One side of the bleachers were filled with family and friends of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon students. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Joshua Thomas, 18, of Loara High School, in Anaheim, pauses for a moment to consider a question in the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Samantha Patterson, 17, right, of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, sports the Marina High School Viking mascot attire. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Cypress Highs School decathlon team goofs off while taking a group picture at the end of the competition at Westminster High School. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Mariyam Habeeb, 17, of Fountain Valley High School, holds up her pencil to show she completed her answer. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Wearing a funny moustache, Bryan Munar, 16, of Kennedy High School, in La Palma, celebrates a correct answer with fellow students in the stands in the finals of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon at Westminster High School Saturday. Munar competed in the honors level of the decathlon. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Iris Kim, 16, of Kennedy High School, in La Palma, holds up a card to indicate a correct answer in the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon. The finals of the decathlon took place at Westminster High School and brought together 550 students Saturday. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

VIDEO: OC STUDENTS BATTLE FOR DECATHLON CROWN

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WESTMINSTER – They arrived to the gymnasium nervous and eager to prove their worth.

Some brought their own cheering sections, armed with pom-pons and cardboard signs. Others just came with teammates, saying they didn't want the distractions.

Most of the 550 "decathletes" had practiced for months in preparation for Saturday's final round of the 2011 Orange County Academic Decathlon.

The decathlon, begun in Orange County in 1968, is considered by organizers and competitors the most prestigious academic competition in the nation for high school students. Medals are handed out to the winners, and rivalries can become as intense as at a high school football game.

"No matter how much you study, it's still pretty nerve-racking," said Geordin Grabuskie, a junior at Sonora High School.

Students arrived to the gymnasium at Westminster High dressed in everything from crisp suits and track jackets to sweat pants and Hawaiian shirts.

The competition Saturday consisted of a "Jeopardy!"-style quiz show. The themes for this year's decathlon were the Great Depression and geology.

Competitors answered questions that included, "What is always part of the subduction zone?" and "One gigaton is equivalent to one what?"

The answers: The ocean crust and one billion tons, respectively.

"These questions are still pretty tough," said Sylvia Figueroa, a junior at El Toro High. "Winning this event really leaves no doubt your team is the best."

The decathlon also included written exams, speeches and interviews. Students competed in these events last month.

Decathlon winners will be announced Thursday in a ceremony at Orange Coast College. The top school will win an automatic berth to the state finals in March. Runners-up may also qualify as wild cards.

The academic decathlon is the brainchild of former Orange County schools Superintendent Robert Peterson,

Peterson is credited with single-handedly transforming his Orange County scholastic event into a respected, high-profile competition attracting hundreds of students from across the nation. He founded the California decathlon in 1979 and the U.S. decathlon in 1981, all while working as Orange County's schools superintendent.

The secret to the decathlon's enduring popularity, program officials say, is its appeal to students of varying academic strengths. The after-school program requires that each nine-person team include three "A" students, three "B" students, and three "C" students. This arrangement provides motivation to the "B" and "C" students and forces everyone to work together, officials say.

About 300 parents, supporters and other spectators cheered on from the bleachers during Saturday's competition.

"I'm just amazed how these students prepare for this competition," said Tracey Tingley, a parent at Trabuco Hills High. "My daughter practiced pretty much every day since June."

Another parent, Ruth Kawile, also from Trabuco Hills, said the decathlon shows "just how smart these kids really are. Most of parents here have no clue how to answer any of these questions."

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